Tree harvesting apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for harvesting trees comprising a forwardly movable vehicle having a tree felling and processing assembly mounted on the front end thereof and adjustable in a direction transversely of the direction of movement of the vehicle to enable accurate alignment of the assembly with a tree selected for harvesting during movement of the vehicle. The felling and processing assembly includes a lower severing mechanism and a mast which extends upwardly therefrom and is movable between vertical and inclined positions. The assembly also includes a tree gripping and feeding assembly consisting of pairs of elongated concave surfaced rollers which grip the tree and are operable to feed the tree downwardly so that it can be cut off into lengths. The tree lengths are then bucked onto a conveyor which moves them to a storage receptacle on the vehicle.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Robert L. Props! l/l97l MartinsonPrimary Examiner-Gerald A. Dost Artorney0lsen and Stephenson 2347Londonderry Ave., Ann Arbor, Mich. 48170 01 77 99 11 i6 Q ly a 0 o 4MNo. d N m L n mm a AFP ns o UM ABSTRACT: Apparatus for harvesting treescomprising a for- [54] TREE HARVESTING APPARATUS tree selected forharvesting during movement of the vehicle. The felling and processingassembly includes a lower severing mechanism and a mast which extendsupwardly therefrom and is movable between vertical and inclinedpositions. The asalso includes a tree gripping and feeding assemblyconsisting of pairs of elongated concave surfaced rollers which feed thetree downwardly so hsi The tree lengths are then bucked onto a conveyorwhich moves them to a storage receptacle on the vehicle.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS grip the tree and are operable tothat it can be cut off into lengt DD 33 44 44 a t "e Md h b P m.m PW 4766 90 H 70 62 39 08 44 33 INVENTOR ROBERT L.PROPST BY 69g E ATTORNEYSPATENTEUuuv 16 Ian SHEET 1 BF 2 FIGZ PATENTEUNBV 16 I971 3, 620 2,73

* sum 2 [IF 2 INVENTOR ROBERT L. PROPST TREE HARVESTING APPARATUS CROSSREFERENCE TO COPENDING APPLICATION The tree-harvesting apparatus of thisinvention is disclosed in my prior copending application Ser. No. 29,109filed Apr. 16, I970.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Prior tr'ee harvesting concepts haverequired the moving of apparatus up to a tree, stopping the apparatuswhile the felling operation is being accomplished, and then movingeither a full-tree length or cut-up portions of the tree into storagepositions. This stopping requires a judgement decision on the part ofthe operator on when to stop the apparatus and another judgementdecision on when to start the apparatus moving after the felling hasbeen completed. Both judgement decisions involve delay whichsignificantly affects production capabilities and costs. My prior U.S.Pat. No. 3,140,736 illustrates timber harvesting apparatus operated inthis manner. The present invention is an improvement on the apparatusillustrated in the aforementioned patent.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention consists of a forwardlymoving vehicle equipped on its forward end with an adjustable treefelling and processing assembly. A horizontal frame member is mounted onthe front end of the vehicle so that it extends transversely of thedirection of vehicle movement and the tree felling and processingassembly is mounted on the frame member so that it can be moved toadjusted positions transversely of the vehicle. This enables theoperator of the vehicle to combine movement of the vehicle withadjustable movement of the felling and processing assembly to align theassembly with a tree in the woods which has been selected forharvesting. The assembly includes a lower C-frame on which a treesevering element is mounted for engagement with the selected tree tosever it from its base. An upright mast on the C-frame is verticallyaligned with the tree concurrently with the severing operation and atree gripping and feeding assembly mounted on the mast and consisting ofpairs of elongated concave surfaced rollers are operable to grip thetree and feed it downwardly, a cutoff mechanism cuts off the downwardlymoving tree into predetermined lengths and a tree-bucking member movesthe cutoff lengths onto a conveyor on the vehicle which moves thelengths to stored positions on the vehicle. During downward movement ofthe tree, a tree delimbing assembly functions to remove unwanted limbsfrom the tree. The apparatus of this invention is thus operable toprovide for fast and economical harvesting of trees.

Further objects, features and advantages of this invention will becomeapparent from a consideration of the following description, the appendedclaims, and the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. I is a perspective view of the harvesting apparatus of thisinvention shown in position to harvest a tree;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus of FIG. I showing the apparatusin harvesting position in solid lines and in position preparatory toharvesting a tree in broken lines;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary top view of the front end portion ofthe apparatus of FIG. 1 with some parts broken away and other partsshown in section for the purpose of clarity; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the apparatus ofthis invention as seen from substantially the line 4- 4 in FIG. 3.

With reference to the drawing. the apparatus of this invention,indicated generally at I0, is illustrated in FIG. I as including aforwardly movable vehicle 12 having a log storage box 14 mounted thereonand having a front end 16. The vehicle 12 also includes a cab 18 locatedat the front end of the vehicle at an elevated position from which thevehicle operator can steer the vehicle 12 and manipulate othercomponents of the apparatus I with good visibility of tree harvestingoperations. A substantially horizontal transversely extending hollowframe member 20 is mounted at the front end 16 of the vehicle 12 onrocker arms 22 supported on pivots 24 on the main frame of the vehicleI2. Hydraulic cylinder assemblies 26 on the vehicle main frame areconnected to the rocker arms 22 and are operable on extension andretraction to raise and lower the frame member 20 relative to the groundsurface over which the vehicle I2 is traveling.

A tree felling and processing assembly 28 is located forwardly of theframe member 20 and consists of a movable tree severing element 30mounted on a C-frame 32 and explained in detail in the aforementionedapplication, an upright mast 34 which extends upwardly from the C-frame32, a tree gripping and feeding assembly 36 and a delimbing assembly 38.A pivot assembly 40, secured to the mast 34 at a position adjacent theC-frame 32, extends rearwardly from the mast 34 and is pivotallysupported on a slide assembly 42 supported on rollers 44 (FIG. 4)supported on the frame member 20. Thus, the slide assembly 42 is movablelongitudinally of the frame member 20 and the rollers 44 facilitate suchmovement.

An elongated threaded shaft, or screw member 46, is supported on andextends longitudinally through the frame member 20. A reversible motor48 connected to the screw member 46 is operable to rotate the screwmember when desired. A large nut member 50, which forms a part of theslide assembly 42, is threadably connected to the screw member 46 and asa result, in response to rotation of the screw member 46 in eitherdirection by the motor 48, the nut member 50, and thus the slide member42, are moved longitudinally of the frame member 20.

A pair of hydraulic cylinder assemblies 52 are mounted on the slideassembly 42 and connected to the mast 34. The assemblies 52 can berelatively extended and retracted so as to incline the mast 34 relativeto a vertical plane while still maintaining the mast 34 in a generallyupright position. This ena' bles manipulation of the tree gripping andfeeding assembly to engage a tree, like the tree 54 shown in FIG. I,which is not disposed in a vertical plane.

The tree gripping and feeding assembly 36 consists of a plurality ofrollers 56 arranged in cooperating horizontally spaced pairs, two ofwhich pairs are included in the assembly 36 illustrated in FIG. 1. Eachroller 56 is of generally elongated cylindrical shape having acontinuous concave surface 58. Since each pair of rollers 56 areidentical and operate in the same manner, only one pair of rollers willbe described in detail hereinafter. A drive motor 60 is associated witheach roller 56 for continuously rotating the roller about its axis andeach roller is mounted on a supporting plate 62. The supporting plates62 are in turn mounted for back and forth swinging movement abouthorizontal supporting pivots carried by a mounting plate 64 secured tothe mast 34. As a result, each pair of rollers 56 is movable about thepivots therefor between moved-apart released positions illustrated inbroken lines in FIG. 2 and moved-together tree-gripping positionsillustrated in solid lines in FIG. 2, such movement being accomplishedin the case of each roller by a hydraulic cylinder assembly 66 pivotallyconnected between the mounting plate 64 and the supporting plate 62 forthe roller 56. The hydraulic cylinder assemblies 66 are operated so thatthere is continuous hydraulic pressure in each cylinder assembly 66 inthe gripping positions of the rollers 56 illustrated in FIG. 2. Also, asshown in FIG. 1, the rollers 56 in each pair are arranged crisscrossfashion, namely, their longitudinal axes are relatively reverselyinclined. This arrangement enables manipulation of the rollers to griptrees of a wide range of size without danger that the rol lers 56 in apair will engage each other before gripping the tree. The concavesurface configurations of the rollers facilitates their frictionalengagement with opposite sides of the tree 54 and the maintenance ofhydraulic pressure in the hydraulic cylinder assembly 66 provides forcontinuous engagement of the roller surface 58 with the tree 54 toaccommodate minor variations in the thickness of the tree 54. Therollers 56 in each pair are rotated in relatively opposite directions sothat they operate to feed the tree 54 downwardly. Such downward movementof the tree 54 moves the tree progressively past delimbing assembly 38which is positioned on the mast 34 above the feeding and grippingassembly 36 and is described in detail in the aforementionedapplication.

A tree severing mechanism 70 positioned below the feeding and grippingassembly 36 consists of a chain drive saw 72 mounted on a support 74secured to the mast 34 and extend ing transversely therefrom. A drivemotor associated with the saw 72 is operable to both drive the saw andswing it transversely of the mast 34 so as to sever the tree 54 intologs 76 of a length corresponding substantially to the distance betweenthe C-frame 32 and the saw 72. A stopper plate (not shown) which isdescribed in detail in the aforementioned copending application ispositioned in the C-frame 32 for halting the descent of the tree 54 atthe C-frame 32. A log kicker mechanism 80 consisting of a log kicker 82secured to an upright shaft 84 mounted on the C-frame 32 and a bracket86 secured to the mast 34 is operable to move a severed log 76rearwardly onto conveyor rollers 88 carried by the vehicle 12 which inturn move the log into the storage box 14. An actuating mechanism (notshown) in the C-frame 32 is operable to rotate the shaft 84 so as toswing the log kicker 82 in a clockwise direction, as viewed from above,so as to push a log 76 severed from the tree 24 onto the conveyorrollers 88.

In the operation of the apparatus 10, an operator located in the cab 18drives the vehicle 12 forwardly with the feeding and gripping rollers 56in the release positions illustrated in broken lines in FIG. 2. Byconcurrently steering the vehicle 12 and operating the reversible motor48 so as to move the slide assembly 42 longitudinally of the framemember 20, the operator aligns the C-frame 32 and the feeding andgripping assembly 36 with a tree 54 to be harvested. The combined actionof the forward momentum of the vehicle 12 and the movement of the treesevering element 30 on the tree 54 operates to sever the tree 54 fromthe tree base without stopping the vehicle 12. The cylinder assemblies26 can be adjusted to position the severing element 30 at a desiredposition relative to the ground surface. Also, the cylinder assemblies52 can be adjusted to position the mast 34 with a tree 54 which is notexactly vertical. As soon as the tree 54 is positioned between therollers 56, the cylinder assemblies 66 are operated to move the rollers56 toward each other to the gripping position illustrated in FIG. 2 sothat the motors 60 rotate the rollers 56 to start feeding the tree 54downwardly. Simultaneously, the cutoff saw 72 cuts off a lower length ofthe tree 54 and the kicker 82 kicks the sawed-off log onto the conveyors88. While this is taking place, a next section of the tree 54 is beingfed downwardly until the lower end thereof hits the stopper plate (notshown) in the C-frame 32 and the cutoff saw 72 operates again to cut thetree 54 so as to form another log 76. This cycle is then continuouslyrepeated while the vehicle 12 is moving to the next tree, such as theone indicated at 90 in FIG. 2 to be harvested, the entire first treebeing converted into log lengths in the process.

From the above description it is seen that this invention provides treeharvesting apparatus which is capable of operating continuously so as torapidly and efficiently convert a tree 54 into logs 76 stored on thevehicle l2.

I claim:

I. Apparatus for harvesting trees comprising a steerable forwardlymovable vehicle, a tree felling and processing assembly locatedforwardly of said vehicle, said assembly including means for felling atree and means for feeding a tree downwardly and cutting the tree intologs of predetermined length, frame means extending transversely of saidvehicle at said forward end thereof, and support means secured to saidassembly and movably mounted on said frame means for movementtransversely of said vehicle to adjust the transverse position of saidassembly.

2. Apparatus according to claim I wherein said frame means comprises asubstantially horizontally extending frame member, rotatable screw meansextending longltudlnally of and mounted on said frame member, and nutmeans on said screw member and connected to said support means for saidassembly.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said assembly includes a lowerC-frame, tree felling means on said C-frame and a mast mounted on andextending upwardly from said C- frame, means pivotally connecting saidmast to said supportmeans, and adjustable means connected to andextending between said support means and said mast and operable toincline said mast relative to a vertical plane.

4. Apparatus for harvesting trees comprising a vehicle having a forwardend, tree felling means mounted on said forward end, a tree gripping andfeeding assembly mounted on said forward end at a position above saidsevering means, said assembly comprising a plurality of gripping andfeeding rollers arranged in vertically spaced pairs, the rollers in eachof said pairs being generally cylindrical in shape and beinghorizontally spaced, each of said rollers having a concave surface, andeach pair of rollers having the longitudinal axes thereof relativelyreversely inclined so that said rollers are arranged crisscross fashionand are engageable with opposite sides of an upright tree.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 further including means for movingsaid rollers toward and away from each other.

6. Apparatus according to claim 4 further including means resilientlyurging said rollers toward each other.

7. Apparatus according to claim 4 further including an upright mastdisposed in a relation with said felling means and said gripping andfeeding assembly, tree-severing means on said mast disposed below saidgripping and feeding assembly and above said severing means apredetermined distance.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 further including tree-delimbing meansmounted on said mast at a position above said tree gripping and feedingassembly.

9. Apparatus according to claim 7 further including means adjustablymounting said mast on said vehicle for movement to inclined positionsand for movement transversely of the direction of vehicle movement.

10. Apparatus according to claim 7 further including log kicker means onsaid mast below said tree-severing means for moving a severed portion ofa tree rearwardly onto said vehicle.

1. Apparatus for harvesting trees comprising a steerable forwardlymovable vehicle, a tree felling and processing assembly locatedforwardly of said vehicle, said assembly including means for felling atree and means for feeding a tree downwardly and cutting the tree intologs of predetermined length, frame means extending transversely of saidvehicle at said forward end thereof, and support means secured to saidassembly and movably mounted on said frame means for movementtransversely of said vehicle to adjust the transverse position of saidassembly.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said frame meanscomprises a substantially horizontally extending frame member, rotatablescrew means extending longitudinally of and mounted on said framemember, and nut means on said screw member and connected to said supportmeans for said assembly.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein saidassembly includes a lower C-frame, tree felling means on said C-frameand a mast mounted on and extending upwardly from said C-frame, meanspivotally connecting said mast to said support means, and adjustablemeans connected to and extending between said support means and saidmast and operable to incline said mast relative to a vertical plane. 4.Apparatus for harvesting trees comprising a vehicle having a forwardend, tree felling means mounted on said forward end, a tree gripping andfeeding assembly mounted on said forward end at a position above saidsevering means, said assembly comprising a plurality of gripping andfeeding rollers arranged in vertically spaced pairs, the rollers in eachof said pairs being generally cylindrical in shape and beinghorizontally spaced, each of said rollers having a concave surface, andeach pair of rollers having the longitudinal axes thereof relativelyreversely inclined so that said rollers are arranged crisscross fashionand are engageable with opposite sides of an upright tree.
 5. Apparatusaccording to claim 4 further including means for moving said rollerstoward and away from each other.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 4further including means resiliently urging said rollers toward eachother.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 4 further including an uprightmast disposed in a relation with said felling means and said grippingand feeding assembly, tree-severing means on said mast disposed belowsaid gripping and feeding assembly and above said severing means apredetermined distance.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 7 furtherincluding tree-delimbing means mounted on said mast at a position abovesaid tree gripping and feeding assembly.
 9. Apparatus according to claim7 further including means adjustably mounting said mast on said vehiclefor movement to inclined positions and for movement transversely of thedirection of vehicle movement.
 10. Apparatus according to claim 7further including log kicker means on said mast below said tree-severingmeAns for moving a severed portion of a tree rearwardly onto saidvehicle.